Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Kids' Artist Rhyme



Seurat painted dots.
I mean lots!

Jackson Pollack split-splat.
Look at that!

Georgia O’Keeffe with flowers
And land without rain showers.

Monet loved lakes.
He painted as the day wakes.

Salvador Dali drew his dreams.
Things I have never seen.

Picasso painted in blue
And odd people too.

Chuck Close painted faces
Not places.

Van Gogh painted Starry Night
And in colors bright

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The children LOVED this game. (I made it up the night before camp for a large motor activity. If you have any other rhymes for me, email me please!)

I printed color photos of each of the artists' work, then put them in clear folders. I put the pictures all in the grass and then read each rhyme one at a time. The children were lined up on the sidewalk then ran to the painting they thought was correct. I told them who was right, why, and then a little about the artist.

On the second day, we reviewed the paintings with names and how to use memory tools to remember the pictures. Simple: "Seurat and dots rhyme." "Dail had clocks melting, so I picture melting baby dolls." "Chuck Close painted faces up close." "I know a kid named Jackson. He is crazy. I can imagine him splashing paint everywhere." They line up on the sidewalk again with the photos in the grass. They get a sticker for each one they get right, if they get 4 right they get a prize (Twizzler).

On the third day, we reviewed again. I don't read the rhyme, just the artist name. They must get 6 right to get a prize. (We used the review time to discuss helping the other students so they can all get them right! This is not cheating. You are discussing the answer and working together.)

On the fourth day, I put out new paintings by the same artists. These paintings the students had never seen before! They had to get 5 right to get a prize. (They could get them all correct because they had learned them so well.)


If we held up just the painting they could immediately say the artists name. It was amazing. This was such a great way to get the kids excited about famous artists. We will be using it again!



Here are the photos that I used. I put 1-3 on a sheet. I printed a second sheet for the final day.

Seurat painted dots.
HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Jackson Pollack split-splat.
Look at that!
HERE and HERE

Georgia O’Keeffe with flowers
And land without rain showers.
HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Monet loved lakes.
He painted as the day wakes.
HERE, HERE and HERE

Salvador Dali drew his dreams.
Things I have never seen.
HERE and HERE

Picasso painted in blue
And odd people too.
HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE

Chuck Close painted faces
Not places.
HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Van Gogh painted Starry Night
And in colors bright
HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Name Plates

On the final day of art camp each child is given 5 name plates.

Name:
Material:
Title:

They are allowed to choose 5 pieces of artwork to display in the show.
They are to fill out their name, the material they used, and a title for the piece.

Before we hand out the name tags we discuss naming the piece by what it looks like or trying to make the viewer think of something else. We give the children one card to start with and have them fill out the name plate for their photograph.

The name plates are a great way to quickly identify which pieces the students want in the show.
They are a great way to have the child title the piece so it is finished.
They are often funny and add to the piece of artwork. Misspellings and long explanatory titles give insight into the child.

Finger Painting



This image was found HERE.

I like the idea of teaching the students how to make an animal by painting with their fingers.

Watercolor Trees






These images were found HERE. I think either one of these ideas would be useful for a little kids guided watercolor.

Zoo Photo Scavenger Hunt

Here are two other photo scavenger hunts I have used with other students.

Zoo Photo Hunt
Let’s go have some photo fun
If you get them all done
I’ll give you bubblegum
Snap a photo of you and me
And animal in a tree
Now go and find two giraffes, a marmoset and tapir
Paw prints, spots, 3 birds, and a grey ear
A trunk, strips, and a tail
At our zoo there is no whale
letter ‘S’
Do your very best


Scavenger Hunt
If you’re bored with nothing to do,
Find these things for a prize or two.
All these things can be found
A straw, a napkin, a penny on the ground
One thing small and lost
Something that has no cost
A paper cup, a zoo map, squirrel food
Have fun dude!

Photo Scavenger Hunt

In 2009, we took a field trip to the local art museum. After a tour of the inside of the museum, we did some outside activities. This photo scavenger hunt was one.

Here are the poems we used for the photo scavenger hunt.
(We divided the students into four groups. The students took turns taking the photos.)

Photo Scavenger Hunt #1
It is time to start
Taking pictures of art.
It might be harder than you think
To find something that is pink.
I found a sphere and the number 3.
Then the letters M, J, and T.
Also, a tree that can’t grow
And the word, “NO.”
Now I need a picture of us
Then a heart drawn in the dust.
I’m all done.
We won!


Photo Scavenger Hunt #2
I have to take these photos in order?
Where am I going to find a quarter?
Now, it can’t grow but it’s a tree
And the alphabet letters B, N, and T.
Next I’ll make a green heart
Its my little piece of art.
Three things left to snap
I wish I had a map
An open-toed shoe
And a circle or two!


Photo Scavenger Hunt #3
I spy a leaning tower
And a purple flower.
I spy an animal’s home,
An orange construction cone.
I spy the number four
And a door.
Now, I see something red
And a person missing their head?
Last, I must find stairs
And a place to sit, but not chairs.
I’m all done.
What fun!



Photo Scavenger Hunt #4
I love this game
I don’t know its name
I’m a little kid but I can play too
First I’ll take a picture of a shoe
A tall tower
And a yellow flower
A silver tree
And a picture of me
I’m almost done
I’m having fun
I still need to click
Pictures of the letter K, a pipe and a stick!

Large Motor Rhyme

Straight line (stand up straight)
Squiggly (wiggle)
Turn around and JUMP (turn around in a circle, jump up)
I drew a camel (move your hand like drawing)
He had one hump (put up your finer for the #1)

Straight line
Squiggly
Turn around and HOP
I drew my sister
Spinning a top

Straight line
Squiggly
Turn around and WIGGLE
I drew a polka dot tract
It made me giggle

Straight line
Squiggly
Turn around and CLAP
I drew a baseball player
I forgot to draw his cap

Straight line
Squiggly
Turn around and SHAKE
I drew a froggy
Swimming in the lake

Straight line
Squiggly
Turn around and YAWN
I drew my daddy
Mowing the lawn


(LAST VERSE before starting activity)
Straight line
Squiggly
Turn around and SIT
I drew a doggy
And I got bit!